The USC Price School of Public Policy celebrated its newly formed partnership with the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington at Mount Vernon by hosting a reception at Lewis Hall on Feb. 28.

USC Price faculty, students and staff at the celebration were joined by representatives from Mount Vernon — including Curt Viebranz, president and CEO of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate, and Maribeth Borthwick ’73, whose support helped to establish the program.

“George Washington contributed to shaping the many fields in which USC Price faculty conduct research and that our students pursue as careers,” said Dean Jack H. Knott during his opening remarks. “Through our partnership, we will educate our students in his legacy of leadership and management in government. We can illuminate those key lessons from the past that will help guide our future.”

The Partnership for the Study of George Washington at USC and Mount Vernon will provide students and faculty with opportunities to better understand Washington’s impact on the fields of governance, planning, public policy and leadership. It will also leverage the resources of the library to facilitate scholarly research, education and public programming at USC and Mount Vernon. Professor David Sloane, director of undergraduate programs at USC Price, will oversee and direct the program elements at USC.

Stewart McLaurin, vice president of the library, expressed his belief that “the platform of Mount Vernon and the platform of the university will join together to educate, teach, build and inspire those next generations of young Americans, perhaps young leaders from all over the world.”

He added, “We never know what this will spark them to become — whether it’s to be president of the United States, cure cancer, build a great city or solve some other great challenge that the world faces. Their leadership could be inspired by this partnership.”

Borthwick, who serves as the vice regent, or board member, representing the state of California, for the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, noted how “this endeavor will create new venues, bring brand-new audiences to learn of Washington’s exemplary leadership standards, his deep sense of civic responsibility and his impeccable moral character.”

“As a Trojan, I am thrilled about the exchange of ideas between USC and Mount Vernon,” she said.

The first Borthwick Lecture on George Washington is scheduled to take place at USC this fall. It will feature University Professor Kevin Starr, who will discuss the evolving meaning of the West.

In addition, the library, which is currently under development just outside the main entrance to Washington’s Virginia estate, is slated to open this fall. The 45,000-square-foot library is scheduled to open in September and will house original Washington papers and volumes.